Weekend Highlights – Sep 18-20 (plus one)

Here are a few of the things on my radar for this weekend…

Autumn Brew Review – Saturday 1-5pm – Unfortunately, this event is sold out. One of the beer fests thrown by the MN Craft Brewer’s Guild, ABR is held at the historic Grain Belt brewing complex in NE Minneapolis. It looks like the weather this year will be PERFECT. The Guild generally does a great job of organizing their events and this is always a favorite.

Street Pub Twin Cities – Saturday 2-10pm – Still sad about missing ABR after your trip to Republic? I’ve got one more for the beer drinkers, the Deschutes Brewery Street Pub. A 402-foot custom bar will have 40 taps in this pop-up pub event with all proceeds going to Second Harvest Heartland. Food vendors include Happy Gnome and Potters Pasties. Music by Big Wu, Solid Gold, Step Rockets, and BBGUN.

Iron Bartender Week Two – Sunday: Doors at 7, Competition at 8pm – Held at the Pourhouse in Downtown Minneapolis, this week the remaining eight teams will go head-to-head in this secret ingredient challenge. The $10 cover charge (free to members of the US Bartender’s Guild) gets you into the event and generous samples of eight cocktails from the competing bars.

A Prairie Home Companion Street Dance – Saturday 5-10pm – I’m sure you’re thinking “Whaaaaaaat??” but hear me out on this one okay? It’s not particularly cool to like PHC these days, as evidenced by a petition asking “all people under 100” to help cancel the show. But you know what is cool? The music of JD McPherson. McPherson will be playing the inaugural show of Garrison Keillor’s final season and then heading out to Exchange Street to play. The event is free except for the $5 meatloaf supper. Music begins at 7pm.

Also, though not exactly this weekend, the 2015 Ivey Awards are on Monday at the Historic State Theatre. Tickets are still available for the show, after party, and VIP reception at Marin before the event. If you love theatre, this is a great way to get out and support the community!